Combination seat cushion and cheering aid

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a combination cheering aid and seat cushion, comprising a substantially planar seating member formed of a flexibly resilient and flexibly compressible material, the seating member including opposite upper and lower surfaces, opposite first and second lateral portions, and opposite front and rear portions, and complementary fastening elements. The seating member is characterized by a first configuration adapted for use as a seat cushion, wherein the seating member is in the substantially planar condition thereof, and a second configuration adapted for use as a cheering aid, wherein the opposite first and second lateral portions are removably connected by the complementary fastening elements to thereby define a tubular configuration of the seating member characterized by an interior passageway communicating opposing first and second openings defined by the front and rear portions, respectively.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains generally to seat cushions, such as maybe employed by persons to render a hard seating surface, including, forexample, a stadium bench, more comfortable, and more particularly tosuch seat cushions which are selectively convertible to a generallytubular configuration for employment as a cheering aid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Public venues for sporting events and the like are frequentlycharacterized by hard and uncomfortable seating surfaces, and it hasthus become commonplace for spectators to employ portable seat cushions,for instance such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,758, issued toMerritt.

It is likewise known, particularly in the context of public sportingevents, to employ cheering aids such as megaphones, placards, and thelike in support of one's team, player, etc.

Unfortunately, it is cumbersome for an individual to transport numerousobjects, including for instance, cheering aids, seat cushions, foods,cameras, etc., into and out of a public venue. It would thus bedesirable to provide means for facilitating the transportation by anindividual of two or more of such objects into and out of a publicvenue.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention addresses and solves the foregoing problems, andencompasses other features and advantages, by providing a combinationcheering aid and seat cushion. According to one embodiment thereof, theinventive combination cheering aid and seat cushion comprises asubstantially planar seating member formed of a flexibly resilient andflexibly compressible material, the seating member including oppositeupper and lower surfaces, opposite first and second lateral portions,and opposite front and rear portions, and complementary fasteningelements. The seating member is characterized by a first configurationadapted for use as a seat cushion, wherein the seating member is in thesubstantially planar condition thereof, and a second configurationadapted for use as a cheering aid, wherein the opposite first and secondlateral portions are removably connected by the complementary fasteningelements to thereby define a generally tubular configuration of theseating member characterized by an interior passageway communicatingopposing first and second openings defined by the front and rearportions, respectively.

The flexibly resilient and flexibly compressible material of the seatingmember may, according to one feature hereof, comprise a foam material,such as open-cell or closed-cell foam.

Per another feature hereof, the seating member further comprises ahandle provided proximate at least one of the first and second lateralportions. The handle may be formed integrally with the seating memberand extends outwardly from one or the other of the first and secondlateral portions thereof.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the seatingmember is characterized by a generally trapezoidal shape in which thefirst and second lateral portions define the non-parallel sides of thetrapezoid and wherein, in the tubular configuration of the seatingmember, the seating member defines a frusto-conical shape in which theopposing first and second openings defined by the front and rearportions, respectively, have different diameters.

Indicia may, per another feature of this invention, be provided on oneand/or both of the opposite upper and lower surfaces of the seatingmember.

According to yet another feature, the complementary fastening elementsare provided on each of the first and second lateral portions. Thecomplementary fastening elements may further be provided on each of theupper and lower surfaces of the seating member. And, according to oneembodiment of this invention, the complementary fastening elements maycomprise hook and loop type fasteners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon reference to the following writtendescription and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 comprises a top-down elevation of the seating member of theinvention, shown in a first configuration thereof;

FIG. 2 comprises a quartering perspective view of the seating member ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 comprises a quartering perspective depicting the seating memberin the second, generally tubular configuration thereof, in which thesame is adapted for employment as a cheering aid;

FIG. 4 comprises an end-view of the seating member as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 comprises a detailed cross-section of the seating member of FIG.4, depicting the complementary fastening elements according to oneembodiment thereof; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate employment of the present invention accordingto the dual utilities thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, the present inventionwill be seen to most generally comprise a combination cheering aid andseat cushion. Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the saidinvention more particularly comprises a seating member 10 characterizedby substantially planar dimensions; that is, the seating member, thoughcharacterized by a thickness T, is generally flat in cross-section. Theseating member 10 includes opposite upper 11 and lower 12 surfaces,opposite first 13 and second 14 lateral portions, and opposite front 15and rear 16 portions.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the seating member 10 ischaracterized by a generally trapezoidal shape in which the first 13 andsecond 14 lateral portions define the non-parallel sides of thetrapezoid. As will be appreciated with continuing reference to thisdisclosure, such a trapezoidal shape provides the seat member 10, whenconfigured as a cheering aid, with a frusto-conical shape particularlysuited to employment of the cheering aid as a megaphone. Of course,other shapes may also be adopted for the seating member 10.

The seating member 10 is formed of a flexibly resilient and flexiblycompressible material suitable for employment as a seat cushion. Suchmaterials include, without limitation, known and commercially availableclosed-cell and open-cell polymer foams.

Complementary fastening elements are provided whereby the first 13 andsecond 14 lateral portions may be removably connected in order toconfigure the seating element 10 as a cheering aid, all as describedfurther herein. Such complementary fastening elements may take any ofnumerous forms, including, as depicted in the illustrated embodiment,complementary strips 17 and 18 of hook-and-loop type fastening material.Alternatively, by way of non-limiting example, the complementaryfastening elements may comprise complementary rivet-type snaps. By wayof further example, the complementary fastening elements may compriseone or more tabs formed integrally with the seating member 10, such tabsbeing removably received in correspondingly dimensioned slots likewiseformed in the seating member 10. Such means are disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 2,517,665, issued to Hochstein, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such complementaryfastening elements as described may be secured to the seating member 10according to known means, as best suited to the complementary fasteningelements selected.

Further to the illustrated embodiment, the complementary fasteningelements 17, 18 are provided on the opposite upper 11 and lower 12surfaces and on each of the first 13 and second 14 lateral portionsproximate the lateral edges of the seating member 10. Such anarrangement permits the lateral portions 13, 14 to be disposed in lappedrelation in the second, generally tubular configuration of the seatingmember 10, all as explained further herein. Of course, alternativedisposition of the complementary fastening elements are contemplated bythis invention, including, by way of non-limiting example, along theopposite lateral edges of the seating member 10, by which arrangementthe lateral edges would be abuttingly connected in the tubularconfiguration of the seat member.

As shown, the seating member 10 may optionally be provided with indicia19 on one or both of the opposite upper 11 and lower 12 surfacesthereof. Such indicia may take any desired form, including, forinstance, logos or other identifiers for a given athletic team orpersonality. The disposition of the indicia 19 is preferably, though notexclusively, such that the same is visible when the seating member 10 isin both of the seat cushion and cheering aid configurations thereof.And, according to a further embodiment, not shown, the indicia 19 areoriented such that a user can grasp the seating member 10 proximate therear 16 portion thereof and display the planar seating member 10 as aplacard. The desired indicia may be applied by conventional means,including, for example, printing.

In addition, it is contemplated that the seating member 10 be coatedwith a liquid impermeable coating to prevent damage to the underlyingmaterial of the seating member 10 in the event of contact with water, aspilled beverage, etc.

To aid in a user's transporting the seating member 10, and further inmanipulating and grasping the same in the cheering aid configurationthereof, the seating member 10 may optionally be provided with one ormore handles 20. In the illustrated embodiment, a single handle 20 isprovided proximate to and extending outwardly from the first 13 lateralportion, according to which arrangement the handle 20 is accessible to auser in the cheering aid configuration of the seating member 10.However, alternate positioning of the handle 20 is certainlycontemplated. Likewise, while the handle 20 is shown to be formedintegrally with the seating member 20, it is envisioned that the handle20 may be formed separately and thereafter connected to the seatingmember 10. Moreover, the handle 20 may define one of the complementaryfastening elements of the present invention, according to the disclosureof U.S. Pat. No. 2,517,665.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 5, the seating member is characterizedby a second configuration adapted for use as a cheering aid, wherein theopposite first 13 and second 14 lateral portions are removably connectedin lapped relationship by the complementary fastening elements, e.g.,17, 18 (FIG. 5) to thereby define a generally tubular configuration ofthe seating member 10 characterized by an interior passageway 21communicating opposing first 22 and second 23 openings defined by thefront 15 and rear 16 portions, respectively. According to theillustrated embodiment, in which the seating member 10 is characterizedby a generally trapezoidal shape in the planar configuration thereof(FIG. 1), the seating element 10 in the tubular configuration thereof(FIGS. 3 and 4) defines a frusto-conical shape wherein the opposingfirst 22 and second 23 openings are of different diameters. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that such a configuration isparticularly well suited for employment as a megaphone.

In exemplary operation, depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, the seating member 10may be easily transported by a user U to a desired public venue, such asa stadium, and positioned atop the seating surface 30 to provide acomfortable seat cushion (FIG. 6). As desired, and especially when theuser U is in a standing position (FIG. 7), the user U may convert theseating member 10 from the planar to the tubular configuration thereofin the manner heretofore described, and thereafter employ the seatingmember 10 as a cheering aid. Subsequently, the user U can readilyconvert the seating member 10 back to the planar configuration thereoffor further employment as a seat cushion.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present inventionthus provides, in a single, easily transportable form, both a seatingcushion and a cheering aid, thus addressing the problems associated witha user's having to transport multiple objects to and from a public venuesuch as an athletic stadium or arena.

Of course, the foregoing disclosure is exemplary of the invention only,and is not intended to be limiting thereof: Other modifications,alterations, and variations thereof, within the level of ordinary skillin the art, are certainly possible, with the benefit of this disclosure,without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the inventionas set forth in the appended claims.

1. A combination cheering aid and seat cushion, comprising: Asubstantially planar seating member formed of a flexibly resilient andflexibly compressible material, the seating member including oppositeupper and lower surfaces, opposite first and second lateral portions,and opposite front and rear portions, and complementary fasteningelements; and The seating member characterized by a first configurationadapted for use as a seat cushion, wherein the seating member is in thesubstantially planar condition thereof, and a second configurationadapted for use as a cheering aid, wherein the opposite first and secondlateral portions are removably connected by the complementary fasteningelements to thereby define a generally tubular configuration of theseating member characterized by an interior passageway communicatingopposing first and second openings defined by the front and rearportions, respectively.
 2. The combination cheering aid and seat cushionof claim 1, further comprising a handle provided on the seating member.3. The combination cheering aid and seat cushion of claim 2, wherein thehandle is provided proximate at least one of the first and secondlateral portions.
 4. The combination cheering aid and seat cushion ofclaim 3, wherein the handle is formed integrally with the seating memberand extends outwardly away from one or the other of the first and secondlateral portions thereof.
 5. The combination cheering aid and seatcushion of claim 1, wherein the seating member is characterized by agenerally trapezoidal shape in which the first and second lateralportions define the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid and wherein, inthe second configuration of the seating member, the seating memberdefines a frusto-conical shape in which the opposing first and secondopenings defined by the front and rear portions, respectively, havedifferent diameters.
 6. The combination cheering aid and seat cushion ofclaim 1, further comprising indicia on at least one of the oppositeupper and lower surfaces thereof.
 7. The combination cheering aid andseat cushion of claim 1, further comprising indicia on both of theopposite upper and lower surfaces thereof.
 8. The combination cheeringaid and seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the complementary fasteningelements are provided on each of the upper and lower surfaces of theseating member.
 9. The combination cheering aid and seat cushion ofclaim 8, wherein the complementary fastening elements comprise hook andloop type fasteners.
 10. A combination cheering aid and seat cushion,comprising: A substantially planar seating member formed of a flexiblyresilient foam material, the seating member having opposite upper andlower surfaces, opposite first and second lateral portions, and oppositefront and rear portions, and complementary fastening elements providedon each of the first and second lateral portions; and The seating membercharacterized by a first configuration adapted for use as a seatcushion, wherein the seating member is in the substantially planarcondition thereof, and a second configuration adapted for use as acheering aid, wherein the opposite first and second lateral portions areremovably connected by the complementary fastening elements to therebydefine a tubular configuration of the seating member characterized by aninterior passageway communicating opposing first and second openingsdefined by the front and rear portions, respectively.
 11. Thecombination cheering aid and seat cushion of claim 10, wherein thecomplementary fastening elements are provided on each of the upper andlower surfaces of the seating member.
 12. The combination cheering aidand seat cushion of claim 11, wherein the complementary fasteningelements comprise hook and loop type fasteners.
 13. The combinationcheering aid and seat cushion of claim 10, further comprising a handleprovided on the seating member.
 14. The combination cheering aid andseat cushion of claim 13, wherein the handle is provided proximate atleast one of the first and second lateral portions.
 15. The combinationcheering aid and seat cushion of claim 14, wherein the handle is formedintegrally with the seating member and extends outwardly from one or theother of the first and second lateral portions thereof.
 16. Thecombination cheering aid and seat cushion of claim 10, wherein theseating member is characterized by a generally trapezoidal shape inwhich the first and second lateral portions define the non-parallelsides of the trapezoid and wherein, in the tubular configuration of theseating member, the seating member defines a frusto-conical shape inwhich the opposing first and second openings defined by the front andrear portions, respectively, have different diameters.
 17. Thecombination cheering aid and seat cushion of claim 10, furthercomprising indicia on at least one of the opposite upper and lowersurfaces thereof.
 18. The combination cheering aid and seat cushion ofclaim 10, further comprising indicia on both of the opposite upper andlower surfaces thereof.